Target Heart Biotech

The company

  • Spin-off of the University of Torino; established in 2005, it operates in the cardiovascular field.
  • Target Heart Biotec discovered the muscle-specific protein Melusin, with a key function in triggering increased muscular power (compensatory cardiac hypertrophy) when the heart is subjected to an exceptional work load. The company is developing recombinant human Melusin as a pioneering new therapy for heart failure. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is another potential indication for Melusin.
  • Two patents filed in 2002 and 2010.
  • Selected publications:
    - ”Cardiac overexpression of melusin protects from dilated cardiomyopathy due to long-standing pressure overload”, De Acetis et al. (2005), Circulation Research, 96: 1087-1094
    [link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15860758]
    - “Melusin, a muscle-specific integrin β1-interacting protein, is required to prevent cardiac failure in response to chronic pressure overload”, Brancaccio et al. (2003) Nature Medicine, 9: 68-75
    [link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12496958]
    - “Altered melusin expression in the hearts of aortic stenosis patients”, Brokat et al. (2007) Eur. J. Heart Failure, 9: 568-573
    [link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17468044]

Current Status

  • Target Heart has developed a recombinant form of Melusin able to penetrate to the inside of heart cells and a protocol for large-scale purification of the protein, free from pyrogens and injectable in vivo.
  • In vivo pharmacokinetic tests (pre-clinical model in animals) have been completed as well as the evaluation of the in vivo activity of the fusion protein in healthy mice and the action of recombinant human Melusin.
  • The study of the in vivo pharmacological activity of the recombinant human protein in an experimental model of heart failure induced by pressure overload has been successfully completed.
  • Interested in partnerships for further development of recombinant human Melusin.